Bedstead-fastening



QICE.

SPENCER LEWIS, 0F TIFFIN, OHIO.

BEDSTEAD-FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 5,650, dated June 27, 1848.

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, SPENCER LEWIS, of Titlin, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F astenings for Bedstead- Joints, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, of which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the post and of the ends of the rails adjacent thereto, showing the fastenings or so much of `them as can be seen on the outside of t-he rails and post. Figs. 3 and l are side and Fig. 5 an end elevation of the lock or that part of the fastening which is fixed in the post. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the keys (generally called tenons) ready to enter the lock. Fig. 8 is a section through the end of a rail showing the manner in which the wedge forces the wood of the rail into the groove in the shank of the key.

The nature of my invention and improvement consists` in casting the lock, which holds both the rails that meet at the same post in one solid piece of metal; the lock being inserted into the post in an auger hole .bored for that purpose, and in casting the key or tenon with a longitudinal groove in its side, into which the wood of the rail is forced by a wedge; by which means it is securely and firmly held in the rail and prevented from turning or drawing without the use of transverse pins and wings or other means.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The lock A, Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, is made of east iron or other suitable metal, it is of the form of a cylinder having a segment out out of one side about three quarters of its length and two-thirds its diameter. Through the cylindrical end an oblong hole B is made in the direction of the axis of the cylinder and through the semicylindrical side another hole C of similar form is made at' rightangles to the axis. On the inner end of the cylindrical part A of the lock two segments of screw threads a a are formed. On the inner side of the semicylindrical portion A2 two like segments or screw threads o b are formed. The lock is placed in a cylindrical cavity made in the post P with its cylindrical end outward as represented at A', Fig. 1, the orifice in the semicylindrical side being placed opposite the corresponding orifice: made in the side of the post through which the tenon or key of the rail is inserted; which tenon or key being turned the segments of screw threads on its end move over the inclined planes and draw it in toward t-he center of the post, which brings the end of the rail tight against the face of the post, making an exact and close joint. The tenon or key of the other rail is inserted into the orifice B and upon being turned is also drawn up firmly and securely. The keys or tenons are made in the usual manner with the exception of a longitudinal groove Z formed on the side of each tenon which is deepest toward the outer end. The shank D of the tenon is inserted into a hole bored in the end of the rail R for that purpose, a wedge IV, Fig. 8, is then driven into the rail a short distance from the edge of said hole and opposite the groove d of the key7 which forces the wood of the rail into said groove. In this manner the key is held firmly from either turning in, or being drawn out of the rail.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The casting of the lock for the keys of both the rails which meet at one post in one solid piece of metal having two mortises and four segments of screw threads for receiving and securing the tenons, by which the locks may be secured in the post without screws and the fastening made more substantial and with less labor and expense than by any other mode known.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing Witnesses this 13th day `of September, A. D. 1847.

SPENCER LEWIS. Vitnesses:

WM. P. ELLIOT, A. E. H. JOHNSON. 

